DRONES are increasingly being used to patrol Britain’s borders and monitor the movements of refugees seeking safety from war and famine, according to a new report.

Drone Wars UK, a London-based organisation set up in 2010 to monitor the use of drones by governments around the world, has published a report that includes evidence of the increased use of military drones to carry out remote attacks on “enemies” with no risk to the attackers.

But its study also exposes the development of the use of drones by border-control agencies. It found the Westminster government was seeking to change laws and regulations on aircraft movements to increase its use of drones known as UAVs — unmanned aerial vehicles — for non-military purposes.

The report, Crossing the Line, says government drone operators can track the movement of refugees heading towards Britain — while doing nothing to assist them in their plight.

“Following a period of uncertainty after the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, there is now greater clarity over how the UK’s borders will operate in future,” said Drone Wars UK.

“In summer 2020 the government conducted consultation on its 2025 border strategy, which set out its aspirations for the post-Brexit border.

“The strategy stated that the UK wishes ‘to take full advantage of new trading opportunities and free trade’ but at the same time required ‘an ever more secure, resilient and efficient border, able to manage migration, prevent smuggling, protect the UK from terrorism and biosecurity threats, and enforce the controls needed to protect UK consumers, businesses and the environment’.” 

While the Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the report, the Home Office defended drones’ use.

A spokeswoman said: “We are determined to put a stop to illegally facilitated small-boat Channel crossings, which are both dangerous and unnecessary.

“Aerial surveillance of the Channel is a vital part of that work, both in terms of protecting lives and securing vital evidence that can support criminal prosecutions, and so far this year Immigration Enforcement has arrested 55 people on suspicion of facilitating small-boat crossings and secured eight convictions.”

Stop the War’s Lindsey German told the Star: “The use and abuse of drones has long been a concern for anti-war campaigners and this report highlights why. 

“They are military weapons used increasingly around borders, leading to potential conflict between countries.

“They also allow surveillance of migrants and refugees while doing nothing to help them in dangerous situations.

“There is evidence of their use for surveillance activities sometimes far from borders.

“All this amounts to an escalation of spying on ordinary people and of increased tension between countries — at great cost financially and in terms of our civil liberties. 

“We cannot allow these drone border wars to become the new normal.”

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment and the Home Office have yet to respond.